2026 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in South Carolina
[Communication & Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value communication & journalism schools.
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2026 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in South Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communication & journalism, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools
Leading the list is University Of South Carolina Aiken, our #1 best value for communication & journalism in South Carolina. Located in the suburb of Aiken, University Of South Carolina Aiken is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,760, with out-of-state students paying around $21,218. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Aiken generally make around $34,654. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Coastal Carolina University earned it the #2 place for communication & journalism. Located in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,640, while out-of-state students pay about $29,628. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $29,821. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at University Of South Carolina Upstate, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,588, while out-of-state students pay about $23,090. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of South Carolina Upstate earn a median of $34,456 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lander University earned it the #4 place for communication & journalism. Lander University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. Students from in state pay about $11,700 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,300. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Lander University earn a median of $25,271 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Winthrop University earned it the #5 place for communication & journalism. Set in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,678, with out-of-state students paying around $28,676. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Winthrop University earn a median of $39,673 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of South Carolina Beaufort came in at #6 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the town of Bluffton, University Of South Carolina Beaufort is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,776 for out-of-state students. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $28,500 in student loans. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of South Carolina Beaufort earn a median of $28,017 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Charleston landed the #7 spot for communication & journalism value this year. College Of Charleston is a large public school located in the city of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,978, compared with $38,296 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from College Of Charleston generally make around $36,903. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Benedict College earned the #8 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Benedict College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $17,748. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $38,250. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Benedict College generally make around $25,769. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Benedict College admits about 96% of applicants.
Bob Jones University earned the #9 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $22,892 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,497 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Bob Jones University earn a median of $40,538 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Greenville University placed #10 among the best values for communication & journalism. Set in the rural area of Tigerville, North Greenville University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $25,800 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,128 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $34,293. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Claflin University landed the #11 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Set in the town of Orangeburg, Claflin University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,046. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $31,000. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $23,156. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Claflin University admits about 65% of applicants.
Clemson University came in at #12 for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Students borrow a median of $23,375 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $43,318. That is a strong return on a $23,375 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Charleston Southern University earned the #13 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,520. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Charleston Southern University generally make around $33,518. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Charleston Southern University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #14 for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,688, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $24,665 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $41,836. That is a strong return on a $24,665 median debt. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
Anderson University Sc landed the #15 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Set in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,970 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,034 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $49,036. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Furman University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,770. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $22,631. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $41,766. Set against $22,631 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 43%.
More Communication & Journalism Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
